Naked Sword Art

Chapter 483: Memory Fracture

"I—... why did I draw my sword?" she whispered, stunned. Her voice sounded foreign even to herself.

Xiao Fang gently lowered her weapon, freeing it from his fingers.

"You didn’t choose to," he said calmly. "I compelled you."

Xun Wei stared at him, disbelief shaking through her usually unreadable expression.

"A technique... that can force someone to act against their will?" she whispered. "Does something like that truly exist?"

Her disbelief wasn’t unwarranted.

In truth, the technique shouldn’t have worked like that — not so quickly, not so cleanly. [ Subtle Suggestion ] wasn’t meant to override instinct or rational thought. At most, it should gently influence someone toward an action they were already inclined to take. Some, like Yin Fei, would offer something in return, even though the exchange is heavily not in their favor. (Chapter 392)

Only a true master of the art — someone vastly stronger than their target — could compel behavior so directly.

Yet Xiao Fang had done it in a single breath.

If any high elder of the Dual Cultivation Sect witnessed what he’d just accomplished, they would have sworn such mastery was impossible — at least not without months, if not years, of meticulous practice.

But Xiao Fang felt none of that struggle.

Instead, the technique settled into him with eerie ease — like a puzzle piece falling perfectly into place. A lingering sense of recognition stirred in him, ancient and deeply embedded, as if the motions and meanings were not being learned, but remembered.

Memories that weren’t his — comprehension he had never earned — brushed the edges of his consciousness.

Xiao Fang’s gaze lowered, expression shadowed.

’This sensation...’ he thought, unsettled. ’It truly feels like... I’ve learned this technique before.’

His gaze shifted to the [ Memory Fracture ] technique next. It was a Profound realm technique, but it wasn’t nearly as intimidating to learn compared to any of the other Profound realm techniques he saw today.

’Can I... really do it?’

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.

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Meanwhile, in the Inner Court’s Rental Cultivation Room Center, a nervous disciple quickly rushed over to Elder Xia’s office.

"E-Elder Xia! Something’s happening to that girl!"

Elder Xia’s brows tightened. Xiao Fang had entrusted Yin Fei to her — the last thing she wanted was for something to go wrong under her care.

But before she could reach the doorway, screams erupted from the room.

"No—! Stay back!"

Elder Xia pushed the door open.

Yin Fei thrashed violently beneath the blankets, caught in a nightmare, her breath sharp and panicked as if running for her life.

Elder Xia placed two fingers to Yin Fei’s forehead, channeling a calm, stabilizing Qi.

Slowly... Yin Fei’s body relaxed.

"What did you do?" the disciple asked her.

"Dreams are merely illusions. I simply gave her another illusion to dream about."

The disciple was awestruck.

"You may return to your duties, I’ll take it from here," Elder Xia told the disciple.

With a hesitant bow, the disciple that had been watching over Yin Fei these past few months finally left. Then before long, Yin Fei’s eyes fluttered open

Dazed and confused, Yin Fei asked in a whisper.

"...Where am I?"

"You’re safe," Elder Xia replied gently. "This is the Inner Court of the Black Paradise Sect."

Yin Fei blinked in surprise. "This... is the Black Paradise Sect?"

"Yes. Let me introduce myself properly — I am Elder Xia."

With much struggle, Yin Fei straightened instinctively and cupped her hands. "My name is Yin Fei. Is it... truly alright for me to be here?"

Elder Xia gave her a calm, almost amused look.

"Why wouldn’t it be? A disciple of the Black Paradise Sect belongs in the Black Paradise Sect."

Yin Fei froze. "...A disciple? Are you saying I’m a disciple?"

Elder Xia nodded.

"Long Wang told me you wished to join. Since you don’t meet the age requirement for the entrance examination, accepting you as my personal disciple was the only proper alternative. You don’t have to call me ’Master’ if you’re uncomfortable."

There was a pause.

Then Yin Fei lowered her head respectfully.

"...Master Xia."

Elder Xia blinked — slightly surprised — then nodded approvingly.

"Long Wang said you would make a fine disciple. It seems he was right."

"Long Wang?" Yin Fei echoed before catching herself. "Ah—... you mean..."

She stopped herself from speaking further — remembering Xiao Fang likely didn’t use his true name.

Of course, Elder Xia noticed the hesitation.

’So he’s using an alias. That boy... always hiding something.’

"Master," Yin Fei asked quietly, "does this mean... I can study the Illusory Body method?"

"That’s right," Elder Xia confirmed. "And since you are my direct disciple, you will have access to multiple cultivation rooms to accelerate your progress. Consider yourself very fortunate — few receive such a privilege."

"I understand. Thank you, Master. I will train diligently."

"Good. For now, rest and recover your strength. You’ve been unconscious for months — whatever you endured clearly took its toll. When you’re ready, come find me. Your training will begin then."

Elder Xia patted her on the lap, then got up to leave.

"Thank you, Master," Yin Fei cupped her hands a final time till Elder Xia left.

Silence settled.

Yin Fei stared at the ceiling — trying to recall what happened before she fainted, but no matter how hard she tried, nothing came. It was as if the memories had simply vanished.

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.

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Outside of the sect, the inn room Xiao Fang and Xun Wei stayed in had grown quiet again.

Xun Wei sat beside him, her hand resting lightly against his chest as she circulated a steady stream of gentle Qi into his damaged meridians. But Xiao Fang’s attention was somewhere else entirely.

His eyes remained fixed on the page of the Dual Cultivation manual — the place where the Profound techniques began.

And where one name stared back at him with almost mocking confidence:

Technique Name: Memory Fracture

The second stage of the Thousand Veil line — the prerequisite to the infamous [ Thousand Veil ] Divine technique.

Xun Wei leaned slightly closer, eyes narrowing. "Is that the one?"

"Yes," Xiao Fang replied, voice low.

"...What does it do?" she asked.

Xiao Fang read silently a moment longer before answering. "It allows me to fracture a person’s memory — erase what I choose, or replace it with something else."

Xun Wei stared at him. "...That’s terrifying."

She didn’t speak for a moment. Then, quietly: "And you want to learn that?"

"I need to," Xiao Fang said plainly. "The Heavenly Fate Sect fights with inevitability. I need something that can break certainty... something that undermines the foundation they rely on."

Her expression softened. "Something that breaks fate."

Xiao Fang’s breathing suddenly slowed.

The world faded.

Inside his consciousness, there was darkness at first — then whispers. Words he had never read. Movements he had never practiced. Yet he understood them instinctively, as if someone else had walked this path before him... and left the knowledge waiting. Images surfaced — a hand holding the same manual, a calm voice speaking softly:

’Control the mind, and the body obeys. Control memory... and reality bends.’

’These are my grandfather’s memories,’ Xiao Fang thought.

It wasn’t his memories, but his comprehension. Comprehension that should’ve taken months or years unfolded in seconds, settling into him like a technique he had practiced a thousand times. It wasn’t learning, it was remembering.

Xiao Fang’s pulse steadied. His Qi slowly aligned with the pattern the technique required — precise, deliberate, dangerously delicate. Then something within him clicked, smooth and natural, like a key turning in a lock.

When he opened his eye again, his gaze was different — deeper, sharper, as if something ancient had awakened inside him.

Xun Wei stiffened. "...Fang?"

Xiao Fang lifted his head, and when her gaze met his, her breath caught. His eye, now open, was glowing with a faint violet pulse.

His voice was calm, steady... almost too steady.

"Wei," he said softly, "are you ready?"

"What are you going to do?" she asked quietly. "Are you... going to erase my memory?" She unconsciously leaned back, tension tightening her shoulders.

Xiao Fang shook his head.

"No," he said calmly. "I want to return it."

Confusion flickered in her eyes, replacing fear with something softer—uncertainty, curiosity.

"Return... it?"

Xiao Fang didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes and focused. His Qi shifted—slow, deliberate—like someone wading into deep water after years away.

"You wanted to know what happened during the tournament," he said, voice low and steady. "Then allow me to return that memory to you."

Xun Wei’s pupils widened—dilating like her mind was bracing for impact.

Then it hit her.

A flash of blinding violet light surged through her thoughts—silent yet overwhelming—and her world fractured open into memory.

She could feel his Profound Dual Cultivation Qi invading her mind, but she trusted him so she didn’t resist it. Then the memories came.

The arena.

The roar of thousands.

The clash of titans.

Chu Piao — unstoppable.

Xiao Fang — unmoveable.

Xun Wei’s heart pounded.

She had never seen swordsmanship like that — raw, terrifying, yet breathtakingly beautiful. The comprehension she gained from that battle had stayed with her... but now the memories behind it returned in full clarity.

Her chest rose sharply.

"Fang... I remember."

Xiao Fang nodded slightly, his only open eye half-closed in thought. Gaining this glimpse into mental manipulation had shifted something within him — the path to mastering the Profound-level technique, [ Illusory Veil ], suddenly felt... more easily attainable.

Xun Wei drew a steady breath. "If you can return memories... does that mean you can take them away?"

"Mn," Xiao Fang answered calmly. "I believe so."

Her expression sharpened — serious, commanding.

"Then listen carefully. You are never to do that to me without my permission."

He met her gaze. Unwavering.

"I won’t."

"Promise."

"Mn. I promise."

Only then did she relax her shoulders.

"...So who are you planning to practice it on?"

Xiao Fang tilted his head toward the door, a faint hum of awareness in his gesture, Xun Wei turned to the door as well, then right on cue — the door slid open.

Xiao Hei entered first, excited and oblivious. Li Xiang followed behind her — cautious, hesitant, eyes searching.

"Oh! You’re awake!" Li Xiang beamed. "About earlier... I saw some things and I have so many questions—"